Cherbourg Danger Zone......

[Monocock]

Having always crossed the water from the east of England I have decided to take a more direct southerly track on my next jaunt.

I am off to Ancenis (10 mile east of Nantes) and was hoping someone could let me know a bit more about the "dreaded" danger zone near Cherbourg.

If there is a suitable web link I would be more than pleased if someone could show it.

Thanks in advance......

[2Donkeys]

Which one did you have in mind? Do you really mean the usual danger zones that are marked on the charts, or are you thinking about the restricted airspace that was established following 9/11?

If you have the latter in mind, this has substantially been de-activated.

[skydriller]

Monocock,

I dont know if this is of any help - and Id like to point out that I dont know the specifics of any zones in Cherbourg - but I do know that as of a few weeks ago, there are now new 5km radius and 3300ft high exclusion zones around most (I think all) Nuclear Power facilities in France. There were definitely NOTAMs for the two in my area at Blaye on the Gironde estury and Bague just south of Bordeaux.

Regards, SD..

[Fujiflyer]

Monocock, I have found the site: http://www.nav2000.com/ very useful for French aeronautical information. There's links to the French notams (which are in English) + much other useful airfield information, etc.

FujiF

[welkyboy]

There is a new restricted area around Cap de la Hague and Flamanville about 10nms south of Cap de la Hague. These are nuclear power plants. If you route from St Catherines point Isle of Wight direct to MP NDB east of Cherbourg (having checked with Plymouth Radar on 124.15 about the status of UK Danger Areas D036) you will keep well clear of Cap de la Hague . Prohibted Area P81 centered on Cherbourg city is permantly active and the French take a very dim view of British pilots that fly through this area. If you planning to route direct to Ancenis I suggest you check the status of customs at that airfield If indoubt land at Cherbourg to clear Customs( you are liable to a fine of several thousand euros if you land without Customs clearance)
Usually there is no Custom officer around at Cherbourg but ATC will log you in and the fireman will collect landing fee. If no ATC in attendance (quite common in France on Sundays) remember to close your flight plan with Brest ATCC

[Fly Stimulator]

And according to the excellent nav2000 site mentioned above, the numbers for closing flight plans are as follows:

CIV(cloture PLN) N° de téléphone

Reims - 03.26.05.03.08
Paris - 01.69.57.66.62
Brest - 02.98.44.79.63
Bordeaux - 05.56.55.62.53
Marseille - 04.42.96.49.31

[sharpshot]

Suggest you refer UK A1 Notam - current reference to this airspace.

[steamchicken]

I heard once that part of the reason the plant is there is because if the worst happens...the prevailing wind would blow the nasties towards the UK!

[Monocock]

Thanks chaps, some useful tips there especially the flight plan closure telephone numbers

[Tinstaafl]

Cherbourg? A danger zone?

Why would they make an aboriginal community 100nm west of Rockhampton a danger zone?


On the other hand.......I can see the point... :p

[Flying Boat]

The danger area name is Cabillaud Radar, they are potentially trigger happy and not always there.
Several times heard traffic call Jersey as Cabillaud does not respond, after a telephone call they either say yes or no but don't enter until they say OK.

The best bet for the West of France is fly via Jersey, refuel VAT free, and maybe stay a night, £3 per 1/2 ton & 7 days free parking. The French think of the Channel Islands as local so are more receptive with landing fees & customs.

Happy landings.

FB

[bluskis]

Am I wrong, I thought the prohibited zone established last year had now been removed. Anyone up to date on this one?

[Keef]

The ZRx ones at Cherbourg have been NOTAMmed as no longer effective - refer the websites mentioned above. Cabillaud (= cod!) radar is probably inactive now.

The exclusion zones round the nuclear plants are still in force, and it would be an excellent idea to avoid those.

Endorse the recommendation to visit Jersey or Guernsey - top up with extremely low cost Avgas, pay a low landing fee, and enjoy the island.

[skydriller]

An update on my previous post, its not just French Nuclear Power installations with exclusion zones now. There is a similar zone near Bordeaux at the meeting of the Garronne and Dordogne rivers where they join to form the Gironde estury- it is a large petroleum depot/refinery.
So beware, they are springing up all over the place like a rash.....make sure you read the NOTAMS and look at your route a little more carefully than normal if planning below 3-4000ft asl. Where posible I would recommend calling your destination actually asking about any local restrictions.

Take care, Regards,

SD.

[Flying Boat]

Thanks for updating me.

Havn't flown near Cherb. for at least 9 months.

I expect Rouen to have 1 soon (havn't checked 'tams recently).
There is a large chemical plant (I believe it is Chemicals) just to the west of the airport. It is the same as the 1 near Toulouse that had a major incident just after 9/11.

Have a very airborne summer.

FB

[Charlie Fox]

NAVW: FROM 03/03/17 08:38 TO 03/06/19 23:59 B1185/03 E)TEMPO PROHIBITTED AREA OVER FLAMANVILLE RDL201/5.4NM LFAU 1- LATERAL LIMITS : CIRCLE OF 05KM RADIUS CENTERED ON 493220N, 0015300W 2- VERTICAL LIMITS: FROM SFC TO 3400FT AMSL 3- ENTRY CONDITIONS: .CAG IFR/VFR:ENTRY PROHIBITED .ACFT PERMITTED: - DEFENCE ACFT,FRENCH POLICE FORCES,CUSTOMS SERVICES, HEALTH SERVICES, CIVIL SECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE SERVICES COMPLETING THEIR MISSION - ACFT WORKING FOR EDF (FRENCH ELECTRIC SOCIETY) - ACFT CLEARED WITH PRIOR NOTICE OF 48HR. 4- AUTHORITIES TO CONTACT FOR PRIOR CLEARANCE WITH 48HR PPR : CENTRE DE COMMANDEMENT DES OPERATIONS AERIENNES 33 1 30 40 68 95 5- VFR ITINERARY JERSEY-FLAMMANVILLE AND GUERNESEY-FLAMMANVILLE SUSPENDED UNDER 3400FT. CREATION OF A COMPLEMENTARY VFR ITINERARY (BAD WEATHER): JERSEY-POINTE DU ROZEL (492859N-0015059W) AND GUERNESEY- POINTE DU ROZEL (492859N-0015059W) F)SFC G)3400FT AMSL

NAVW: A)LFAU FROM 03/03/17 09:01 TO 03/06/19 23:59 B1197/03 E)TEMPO PROHIBITTED AREA OVER LA HAGUE RDL334/4.45NM FROM LFAU 1- LATERAL LIMITS : CIRCLE OF 5KM RADIUS CENTRED ON 494100N, 0015300W 2- VERTICAL LIMITS: FROM SFC TO 3900FT AMSL 3- ENTRY CONDITIONS: .CAG IFR/VFR:ENTRY PROHIBITED .ACFT PERMITTED: - DEFENCE ACFT,FRENCH POLICE FORCES,CUSTOMS SERVICES, HEALTH SERVICES, CIVIL SECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE SERVICES COMPLETING THEIR MISSION - ACFT WORKING FOR EDF (FRENCH ELECTRIC SOCIETY) - ACFT CLEARED WITH PRIOR NOTICE OF 48HR. 4- AUTHORITIES TO CONTACT FOR PRIOR CLEARANCE WITH 48HR PPR : CENTRE DE COMMANDEMENT DES OPERATIONS AERIENNES 33 1 30 40 68 95 5- PARTICULARITIES VFR ROUTE ALDERNAY - CAP DE LA HAGUE SUSPENDED UNDER 3900FT CREATION OF A COMPLEMENTARY VFR ROUTE (DUE TO BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS) : ALDERNAY - HEAUVILLE (493459N, 0014807W) DANGEROUS AREA LF-D575 SUSPENDED. F)SFC G)3900FT AMSL